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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2020)
SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2020 | 7A SWANSON’S PEST MANAGEMENT INSPECT – CORRECT – PROTECT SUSTAINED PEST MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS SOME OF THE PESTS THAT WE TREAT: ANTS • COCKROACHES • FLEAS • RODENTS BIRDS • BEDBUGS • STORED PRODUCTS PESTS BEES/WASPS • GOPHERS 541-997-4027 1-800-622-8993 “Since 1983” Visit our Website: www.swansonspm.com Buying or Selling? I can help. 4836 Laguna Ave – Luxury lake living on near- ly 5 acres. This 4,000 sqft, 4 bdrm, 5 bath home has lake views with private dock. Remodeled in 2003 with hardwood fl oors, gourmet kitchen, high ceilings, and large master suite. Oversized 3 bay RV barn with shop and offi ce. $1,369,000. #2850- 18330278 Ed Kopilec Principal Broker 541 991-8630 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 “ I’m here to support the community and the Siuslaw News.” Delbert L. "Del" Phelps Real Estate BROKER COVID from page 1A Two weeks ago, LCPH came to the Siuslaw region and offered mass testing to 200 local residents, with only one case being reported from the Mapleton testing. “But here’s the catch — COVID spreads quickly,” Davis said. “It can go from no community spread to com- munity spread in two days. These definitions aren’t real- ly super helpful, other than ‘Right now, right here, I’m safe.’ But in a few hours, you might have COVID. All of this is dependent on individ- ual actions.” Davis believed the situa- tion in Florence was aggra- vated by the number of tour- ists flooding into the region, filling up parking lots and crowding downtown streets. “You live in a beautiful place. We are certainly trying to do our very best to dis- courage people from unnec- essary travel, to encourage them to stay home if they can or reevaluate their trav- el plans. But it’s a hard thing to message,” Davis said. “We don’t necessarily think any- body in Eugene and Spring- field necessarily needs to go to Florence.” Still, the crowds are com- ing, which creates an issue for the unique population of the area. “Your community skews older, which presents chal- lenges as well,” Davis said. “We’ve seen the majority of people that are dramatically “I love to help people buy and sell property” Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate 1875 Hwy 101, P.O. Box 276, Florence, OR. 97439 Cell - 541-991-7787 dphelps@bhhsnw.com • oregoncoastallistings.com Sat. only, 7/18/20, 9am-1pm, 609 Ivy St., corner of 6th & Ivy, Huge Sale! Most items $1, household, collectibles, tools. Bargains galore! A member of the franchise system of BHHS affi liates, LLC Locally Owned & Operated impacted by COVID tend to be older.” It’s those factors that spurred Davis to say Florence residents should stay home. However, getting the mes- sage across is difficult. “In public health, we take a harm-reduction approach. Basically, the assertion is that when it comes to anything from seatbelts to speeding, people don’t fully grasp or behave in a preventative fash- ion until they have experi- enced the negative results of an action,” Davis said. “Since it’s not our business to go out and spread diseases so we can be more effective in our messaging, all we can do is say, ‘Hey, we understand that you want to get outside. We understand that this is tough. If you go outside and you see a gathering of people, walk around them, cross the street, don’t go near them.” It’s also vital for residents to follow safe practices when they are at home as well. “If you’re going to have a gathering in your house, and it’s three people, examine whether or not you have to do it,” Davis said. “If you feel like you absolutely have to do it, make sure you have six feet between everybody in your house and make sure you have a mask on if you can. And if the options are avail- able, meet in the backyard instead of inside the house. It’s just little things like that. If you have to do these activ- ities, try and do it as safely as possible.” It’s particularly important to adhere to safe practices during personal interactions. “The workplace is a perfect example,” said Davis. “So, we have these businesses where there’s no transmission hap- pening on the floor. Not a single customer is getting sick. The only people who are getting sick are those who are wearing masks all day long. That’s because, as soon as they get off work, they go on back and share a cigarette with someone. You just com- pletely defeated the purpose of this whole thing.” Davis stated that the reg- ulations imposed by the state aren’t simply to check a box on a prevention list, but to encourage behavior that leads to actual results. “There’s a changeable out- come to this behavior. If you don’t practice it all the time, you miss the point,” Davis said. “If you wear a mask when you go to the grocery store, wear a mask when you invite friends over — because it’s the same type of interac- tion.” The warnings come as Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ex- tended mask requirements to outdoors and restricted pri- vate gatherings to 10 people or less on Monday. “The COVID-19 disease is spreading rapidly across the entire state of Oregon,” Brown said in a news confer- ence. “Each and every one of us needs to take action — im- mediate action — to slow the spread of the disease.” Oregon has seen more cas- es reported in the past week than it has for the entire month of May. July also saw 100 cases reported in a single day, which hasn’t occurred in over a month. Half of all current cases are people under the age of 40, and the state recorded its sec- ond death from someone in their 30s. “We have done so much, we have come so far, we have sacrificed so deeply — we cannot let this virus get the best of us,” Brown said. “Today, we are sounding the alarm because we are at risk of allowing the virus to spiral out of control. This is what we saw in New York this spring, and it’s what we’re seeing today in Texas, Florida and Arizona. The question now is whether Oregon will be the next New York or next Texas.” Starting today, July 15, face coverings are also required outdoors if people aren’t able to maintain a physical dis- tance of at least 6 feet. “Any time you are outdoors and can’t manage a physical distance of six feet, and you are with people you don’t live with, please, please, please put on a face covering,” said Brown. As for enforcement of the mandate, the governor stat- ed that it would still be up to businesses to enforce the rule. “If a restaurant has outdoor seating, if a grocery store has a line out front or if a venue is hosting an event, business- es will have to include face coverings outdoors as part of their operation plan, just as they have for indoor spaces,” she said. Brown stated that there has been a statewide enforcement team that has been tasked with ensuring businesses are Let me Showcase your property. Brian Jagoe Principal Broker 541 999-1314 91 Windleaf Way – This is a great opportu- nity to build your home close to the beach, in a great community of very nice homes. The seller is willing to carry so bring us an offer and start planning your future in Florence. $68,000. #2797- 18615048 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 enforcing face covering re- quirements. Over the Fourth of July weekend, the task force visited over 800 busi- nesses across the state. “For those businesses that are not following the rules, there will be serious conse- quences, including citations, fines and ultimately closing down businesses that refuse to protect their employees and their customers,” Brown said. Additionally, the governor mandated that private gath- erings, such as potlucks, din- ner parties and book clubs, cannot exceed 10 people. The rule does not apply to busi- nesses or churches, which have been implementing state mandates and have not been a major cause of spread in Oregon. “Indoor group social gath- erings are fueling much of the spread,” said OHA Direc- tor Pat Allen. “Since Oregon began reopening, we’ve seen new clusters and outbreaks of COVID-19 when people get together inside, especial- ly in small social gatherings with family and friends. It’s understandable why this oc- curs. You’re with family and friends and that feels inher- ently safe. People think less about taking the precautions they need to protect them- selves and their friends and family from COVID-19.” Brown was aware that the state would not be able to enforce the private gathering mandate. “I’m not going to set up the ‘party police,’” she said. “The proof will be in the numbers. Either people will adhere to this requirement and become a positive force for stopping COVID-19, or I will be forced to take more restrictive measures. No one wants that.” Other states in the nation, including Texas and Califor- nia, have taken steps to close bars and restaurants entirely as their infection rate spreads. Brown has not gone that far yet, hoping that people will take personal responsibility to help slow the spread. How- ever, if the numbers in Ore- gon do not begin to decrease, “nothing is off the table,” she said. The state may see a re- turn to some of the shutdown mandates seen at the begin- ning of the pandemic. “I want the press and the public to note that so many Oregonians are already wear- ing face coverings and lim- iting their in-person social gatherings — Thank you, thank you,” Brown said. “I know this is hard. It’s really hard. It’s lasting much lon- ger, and the virus is much tougher to beat than any of us would ever wish.” But despite the majority of Oregonians’ best efforts, the virus has still spread. “It may still be possible for us to keep bars, restaurants and shops open, to gather again in larger groups, to con- tinue to hike, camp and go to parks,” Brown said. “But it all depends on us. Our choices will determine our future.” PERFECTLY Honesty • Quality • Integrity Pest Tech Inc. is locally owned and operated. We are dedicated to providing professional pest management solutions. We service the greater Florence area, Central Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon. Our team of friendly certifi ed technicians have the experience and knowledge needed to help our customers with their pest control needs. Give us a call to learn how we can help protect your home or business. D ED E DE R LICIO & US T U E AR N ANTE G GET THE GRILLER’S BUNDLE INTRODUCTORY PRICE : $ 79 4 (5 oz.) Butcher’s Cut Filet Mignon 4 (4 oz.) 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